“The dredge and several hundred fathoms of wire line made a heavy load, far beyond the unaided strength of the scientists. On the 23rd, for example, we put down a 2 ft. dredge and 650 fathoms of wire. The dredge was hove in four hours later and brought much glacial mud, several pebbles and rock fragments, three sponges, some worms, brachiapods, and foraminiferae. The mud was troublesome. It was heavy to lift, and as it froze rapidly when brought to the surface, the recovery of the specimens embedded in it was difficult.”

— Ernest Shackleton, South

“I have got it adjusted so that it will start from dead cold without any blowlamp heating, and on the second or third turn of the handle. This is really very satisfactory, but unfortunately Sir Ernest is unable to appreciate it. All he says is that they can run motorcars in greater cold than this (I suppose he means in Canada) but he is probably unaware that such cars are kept in a warmed garage and started up before going out, whilst out tractor here spends its time out in the open on deck all the time, and the engine is so cold at starting that one’s finger, if wet, sticks to the iron.”

“When about half the (trawl) wire was in, one of the bearings on the countershaft seized for want of lubrication. It had been sent out with that particular grease-cup empty and I had failed to notice it. It will only take an hour or so to put it right, but Sir Ernest was put out and the rest of the trawl was wound in by hand.”

— Thomas Orde-Lees